Help with Lanier 5255

[lotera88]

I really need help with this problem I'm facing.
The machine is printing out light copies after about every 200 copies. It's like it's not getting any toner supply. Everytime it's always the same thing.
No/little toner in the toner hopper unit, the VSG reading will go up ( i think it's because of the low toner count ).
I've tried most of the procedures I can find regarding light copies here in COPYTECH. But it still didn't solve the problem. And one thing I've noticed recently, the Development Unit is spilling out developers. I found a lot of spilled developers in the Transfer Belt unit and Toner Recyling unit.
What seems to be the problem? To note, I've changed the drum, developers, TD sensor, Lower Magnetic Roller etc.
Hope someone can help me out.

[bat]

If you have changed all parts and did TD sensor intialization corectly, I think problem is in cloged toner supply (toner botle holder), or toner end sensor. Regarding of developer spilage, check seals on developer unit, doctor blade and bias voltage.

[lotera88]

If you have changed all parts and did TD sensor intialization corectly, I think problem is in cloged toner supply (toner botle holder), or toner end sensor. Regarding of developer spilage, check seals on developer unit, doctor blade and bias voltage.

I've already serviced the toner bottle holder. And I've changed the toner end sensor also. The entrance seal is new too. Is it possible that the spilage might be caused by doing forced toner supply too much?

[schooltech]

Before you start swapping parts, make sure that all of your voltages are at their factory spec locations. Make sure your dv bias voltages and such aren't too high or you'll be constantly fighting this.

Yeah, there are procedures to help with darkening the image, in fact, there's a service bulletin about it years ago. But, make sure that the pinholes in the toner hopper are completely clear so when you turn the toner add gear the toner kind of "spits" out with each turn. If it doesn't, there's too much crap built up in there. Also, lower the ID sensor interval, I think it goes down to 5, but 5-10 should be adequate. Check your toner add rate and make sure it's at the factory setting-I think it's around 650 mg/s. If you INCREASE the number, it will reduce the toner supply.

If you're finding buildup on either the front or the end of the developer unit, it might be the developer side seals that are "shaving" off the developer. I've had this happen many times, so I just cut them back a bit and all is well.

How long has it been since the developer been changed? It may be so far out of whack that it will not set up properly anymore.

When you say that the toner is not in the hopper, do you mean the primary hopper or the secondary hopper? There is a toner shudder mechanism in the primary hopper that should be open (the little piece that sits behind the cover you remove-it's held back by a little plastic detent.)

Cheat the door, and 5-804 the toner motor to make sure the bottle is turning freely.

All of what I suggested are things I'd check, so I'm not sure exactly what you've checked. I just like to do the simple stuff first, so I use the features the machine gave me to troubleshoot. I still have one in service, so I can check settings if you're not sure of a particular setting you've looked at.

[Jimbo1]

I can tell you from experience of the worst sort that you may have to fill the front toner hopper to get it to behave. If that bell is not full it doesn't think there is any toner in the bottle and won't turn enough to fill it.

Which means you have to do it manually. Be careful. No..really.

That sensor is a pressure sensor ad if it doesn't feel the pressure it assumes no toner.

[schooltech]

What? Be careful? hehe

Yeah, you may have to add toner to 'trick' the end sensor. If the dv is toast, I don't know if adding toner will help much, but it'll be fun.

It sounds like there's not much toner left in the dv unit, if he's dumping that much on the tx belt, etc.

[Jimbo1]

Yeah it's most likely just old developer. I had been fooloed once before by no toner in the front end and thought I would add that in.

[Ricoh-ono]

Just to reiterate some of what Schooltech said. In the toner hopper there is a metal plate with about 16 small holes in it that toner drops through into the developer unit. I have had toner clump up and block those holes. It is held in place by three screws. Just clean behind it real good and then run a forced toner. Once your back to good print quality then run 2801 and 2962. Good Luck!

[lotera88]

Thanks u all..But I've done and checked everything that u guys suggested way back before i even considered posting for help here. The developer is quite recent, i've changed it in December last year. And it just got a few thousand copies on it too, cause of the light copy problems..I've even tried out procedures from the service bulletins, 3 of them if i'm not mistaken. I'm thinking something out of the norm is excluding me. I know the machine mechanical parts very well. I can disassemble and reassemble the machine without any problems. So i think mechanical faults is not the problem here..and the settings are back to factory defaults..
Can i get a copy of your machines SP Modes values?Maybe I've missed some things there..

[FRIDGEMAGNET]

Try stripping the drive motor assembly, this has the toner supply clutch in it.
I have known a few of these either not work or bind to keep adding toner.

[lotera88]

Try stripping the drive motor assembly, this has the toner supply clutch in it.
I have known a few of these either not work or bind to keep adding toner.

I've already changed the toner supply clutch. So i guess that's not the problem either.

[schooltech]

I'll print out my sp list for the machine that I still have going and, if I remember, I'll plan on posting it Monday.

I forgot to ask earlier, where is the dv dumping? Is it everywhere below the unit, on the ends, out of the bushings?

[lotera88]

I'll print out my sp list for the machine that I still have going and, if I remember, I'll plan on posting it Monday.

I forgot to ask earlier, where is the dv dumping? Is it everywhere below the unit, on the ends, out of the bushings?

Most of the DV dumpings occurs at the end side of the DV unit. I found the dumped DVs mostly on the end side and in the Seperation Unit. But I've checked all the gears and bushings there, and all seems to be ok.
Looking forward for your SP list. Hope it'll help me out.

[alizen]

if the prblem is still then check recycling blower diaphram which is located behind the pc board l

[schooltech]

I think that your developer side seals are causing the problem. In my lovely "drawing" is what I had to do to the dv side seals to fix the same type of problem, where it was dumping on the sides of the unit.

Here is the drawing, plus the SMC printout from my machine.